ControllerHub 8

Overview

If you perform live, you need a hands-free way to manipulate your audio parameter settings — whether your target parameters live in hardware or software. The solution is the addition of expression pedals and/or footswitches, connected via USB or MIDI.

ControllerHub 8 is the central hub for a modular control setup. Connect as many as eight of your favorite expression pedals and/or footswitches, or use multiple ControllerHub 8‘s to connect even more. ControllerHub 8 converts your pedal movements and button presses into MIDI message streams over USB and standard MIDI cables. Within your audio software, click the “Assign” button to map these control movements to your desired target parameters. When controlling hardware devices, simply match the Continuous Controller numbers listed in your device’s MIDI Implementation Chart.

The modular approach lets you use the exact number of pedals and buttons you prefer, and locate them wherever you like. Then you can always add “just one more” any time the need arises.

ControllerHub 8 comes out of the box with the first four inputs sending MIDI volume messages (MIDI CC 7) on channels 1 through 4, and the next four inputs sending button press messages (MIDI CC 64) on the same four channels. You can use these default assignments or edit each of the inputs individually to match your custom requirements.

Power Requirements

Ordinarily, ControllerHub 8 powers through USB, so a wall wart is not included. You need to order this wall wart if: a) you are using 5-pin MIDI only (and not USB), or b) you’ve daisy chained enough ControllerHub 8’s to exceed the power sourcing capacity of your USB host. This varies from host to host. For example, a laptop can generally power more ControllerHub 8’s than a tablet. Please contact us if you are unsure of your power requirements!

Each input is scanned 6,000 times per second to ensure instantaneous connection between physical control movement and the desired audio result.

Power Options

Phantom-power through USB or MIDI. A wall wart connector is also provided. Wall wart must be 9-24V DC, with power on center conductor.

Power consumption

5V phantom power: 400 mW (80 mA)

24V wall wart: 750 mW (31.25 mA)

Physical

Size: 4.5” wide x 1.75” tall x 4.325” front-to-back

Weight: 0.428 kg (15.1 oz)

Design

Inputs

There’s a bit of cleverness employed in the design of the 1/4” input jacks, which allows them to switch-hit between expression pedals and foot switches. You don’t need to decide in advance how many pedals vs. how many buttons you’ll be using. Connect and re-connect however and whenever you like.

Core

We use a Xilinx Spartan6 FPGA as the brains of the unit, so it is extremely powerful yet runs very cool and consumes very little power. Three ControllerHub 8’s can be phantom-powered by a laptop’s USB port, and one can even be phantom-powered by a tablet.

LEDs

Every connector has one or more LEDs associated with it, so you know exactly what is happening at all times.

Enclosure

We found a source for architectural aluminum extrusions, with 1/8” wall thickness. It is extremely rugged.

Editing

ControllerHub 8 ships with a perfectly usable configuration, so it can be used right away without editing. Yet ControllerHub 8 is fully customizable to your exact requirements. Each input connector has its own collection of editable parameters, and there is also a global parameter bank. Editing is only needed on the rare occasions when you add, remove, or rearrange the physical pedals or buttons on your pedalboard. It’s essentially a set-it-and-forget-it operation.

Per-Input parameters (8 sets)

MIDI Tx Channel

MIDI Tx CC Number

Pedal vs. Button

Calibrate

Invert

Auto Repeat

Global Parameters

Unit ID

Auto Repeat Rate

Readback Request

MIDI/USB Patch Bay: Controller Inputs to USB

MIDI/USB Patch Bay: Controller Inputs to MIDI

MIDI/USB Patch Bay: USB to MIDI

MIDI/USB Patch Bay: MIDI to USB

MIDI/USB Patch Bay: MIDI to MIDI (thru)

All of ControllerHub 8’s internal parameters are adjusted using MIDI SysEx messages, so any software or hardware that is capable of sending SysEx commands can be used to edit ControllerHub 8’s parameters. We recommend using Dan Rosenstark’s MIDI Designer app for iOS, as we’ve created an easy-to-use graphical user interface template that runs under MIDI Designer.